Ho, i had a mild heart attack last week now have 2 stents nd 1 scheduled after a holiday in 4wks. Im goin to turkey and would love to be able to go in the sea/pool. Ive been advised not to go upto my heart,ndno swimming.. Is this correct ? Im gutted this is a love of mine when.im red hot abroadAny advise plz
Swimming abroad: Ho, i had a mild heart... - British Heart Fou...
Swimming abroad
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Ftm35
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There may be a bigger issue than just taking a dip or not.
You say you have a pending stent procedure, but travel insurance is not usually granted if there are outstanding medical tests or procedures. Call round a couple of the insurance brokers who specialise in travel insurance for people with health conditions and see what they have to say.
Whatever happens, never be tempted to travel without insurance. The costs of treatment and repatriation can be absolutely ruinous, like "lose your home" expensive, a swim in the Med isn't worth the risk.
Good luck.
Hi, i have travel insurance, that wasnt the question i needed answering.
I think chappychap was only trying to advise you if you have not advised your insurance you may have major problems. Who advised you not to swim ? As it is probably very good advice
Perhaps the best idea would be to cancel your holiday under the insurance you say you have. Let your heart recover. Swimming can wait.
in reply to Ftm35
Assuming you continue with your plans to go on holiday, have you updated your travel insurance provider with your recent change of medical circumstances. If you haven't you may find your policy is invalidated. And even if you do advise them you may find they need extra as happened to me, with the option to cancel.
Ftm35 in reply to
I actually took out the insurance the same day i had an attack, cancelled it nd had to re apply nd declared everything.
Do you mind sharing the name of the insurance company that gave you this cover?
The reason I ask is that there are many people who come to this forum asking where they might get travel insurance under similar circumstances, ie a very recent heart incident with further medical treatment scheduled. But they consistently report that they've been refused cover; so the name of your insurance company would be valuable knowledge for the forum.
Safe travels.
I am waiting for a cardioversion following being diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation. Because I'm on a waiting list I couldn't get insurance anywhere. But found goodtogoinsurance.com who will do 'on waiting list cover' but at a cost. It cost £1204 for a 2 week single trip!.
Staysure , have been insured with them for a couple of years now and they are exceptionally good
Staysure no longer cover for anyone waiting for treatment or tests. Even if remove the condition that you’re waiting for tests for they won’t allow you to do that now and it renders any other pre existing conditions not covered.
Heat isn't good for the heart soon after a cardiac event/operation as this causes the heart to work harder and right now the heart's workload should be minimised while it recovers. Same with humidity.
Basically, most advice will be to give it a miss I'm afraid.
Well the cardiologist who did the procedure didnt say i couldnt nd didnt advise i shouldn't so im going. Im only relatively young, nd im recovering very well,in 4wks il be fine. Im not going to go mad and intend to totally chill out on a well deserved holiday that i need.
Well I also didn't say not to go on holiday. You asked for advice on swimming in the sea, well I gave advice for swimming in the sea. If your cardiologist already gave their advice then well I'd go with that rather than Internet strangers.
I'm sure you deserve the holiday. You certainly need to chill out. Safe travels.
2 stents and another scheduled is a substantial set of procedures no matter how young you might be. You asked for advice and the general opinion from some extremely knowledgeable people here is that an overseas holiday might be too soon and swimming is not necessarily wise. If your cardiologst has given you the all clear then they know your situation better than me but I would give it a miss for the time being.
Dear Ftm35,
There once was a man, who owned a Vintage Car, it had Originally Belonged to his great Grandfather, many years ago.
The man had his Heart 'Set' on the Monaco Grand Prix Circuit but, a few months before the Race, the car suffered a Major Engine Failure- one of the Cylinders 'fractured'. The man took the Car, his Pride and Joy, to a Specialist Garage/ Repair Shop.
For Many Weeks, the Shop, Work on the Engine and DID Indeed Manage to Get It Running again. Delighted the Man went to Pick Up, his Prized Motor Car, but is Warned NOT to Drive it 'Far'- because of the Damage Done to it's 'Works'.
Does the man, take the Car to Monaco? Well that is for YOU to decide....... Personally, if the Experts told ME NOT to 'Do' something, I wouldn't- even if I had had my Heart Set On It.
I'm sure that, by now, you Understand what I'm trying to tell you, my friend. Far Better to Not Attend An 'Event'- even one that you were 'So Looking Forward To' than to Risk Your LIFE!
Sorry to be so 'Direct', with you, Ftm35 I'm ONLY Concerned for your Health, my friend.
AndrewT
hi. It’s not for me, or any other contributors on this forum, to tell you that you can’t go on holiday. You need to seek advice from your cardiologist and/or GP for their opinion and follow their advice. If they say that you shouldn’t be swimming then nobody on this forum should be disagreeing with that as we don’t know your medical history and current circumstances. I’m gutted for you that you are in this situation but you need to put your health first. Good luck.
Thank you Anon2023. You seem to have been the only person not judging me, nd ur right noone knows my circumstances. I have heart disease NOT a bad heart. Ive asked for advice not to be lectured. I have my insurance sorted, thank you, had tests and im doing very well, and i am able to go on holiday the CARDIOLOGIST said it was ok. I only asked about hoing into the sea and wondered if anyone else had beeen told this. For goodness sake, im not swimming the channel. I came on this web for advice like i said not to be told off like a child. I consider myself to have been very unlucky my heart disease is genetic i havent ate myself into a heart attack
I think its now time to uninstall this app now.
Thank you ANON2023 again for not judging me
if your cardiologist is happy for you to go on holiday then there’s no reason for you not to go. It sounds like you have everything sorted and are prepared to take precautions to stay healthy. I think the majority of people who replied had no intention of sounding judgemental but were just worried about the pitfalls of foreign travel after heart events and didn’t want you to encounter any problems. Please don’t let it put you off the forum. Best wishes & enjoy your holiday.
Before you uninstall could I get the name of the travel insurance please, they sound incredibly understanding.
Hi, yes I was told this and I had a heart attack 18 months ago with no known cause and no treatment given other than the drugs “NICE” recommend. I was frustrated due to this being my favoured form of exercise. I was told no swimming for 10 weeks, but given there was no treatment or known cause I managed to get them to agree a lesser time for a return to the pool but was then told to walk in the pool most of the time and only swim a little, head out of the water, not to submerge or swim crawl head down breathing under water, duck dive or fully dive. The reason I was told was my exertion was hard to gauge in a pool, but also the pressure of water on the body could affect my body, blood pressure and pressure on the heart. I swam at 6 weeks in a pool with a lifeguard and GTN spray close to hand in case (thankfully never needed it) and started sea swimming this January. BUT I stress although I did swim I had not had any interventions like stents etc. have a great holiday and if you do venture in please take it very slowly, then on your next holiday you will really feel the benefit. Take good care of yourself.
I, like yourself, was born with my heart problems, I'm 5 weeks post mechanical aortic valve and aorta replacement, counting the days until I have my 6 week check up and get the all clear to travel to Greece for summer where I grew up and all my family live. I hope my doctors give me the all clear and allow me to swim but if the swimming is a problem, there is always next year. I hadn't considered the heat being an issue. I also feel like yourself, need some time to chill, have a laugh with friends, eat some good food, switch off from the last couple of months of leading up to surgery and since. It is something to look forward to. I have insurance in Greece and have been regularly seen by cardiologists there aswell so that isn't an issue. I wish you a safe summer whatever you decide.
I’m sorry, but you honestly sound rude. You asked for suggestions/thoughts/anecdotal stories that you want to hear in order to support the idea/opinion that you already have. Then, you accuse others of being judgmental for offering heartfelt suggestions.
Hi Ftm
I can’t help with your swimming abroad question but I wanted to say I hope you enjoy your holiday and I would recommend reaching out to your cardiologist for specific advice about what they feel you might be able to tolerate based on your circumstances.
We’re all so individual and what might not be advisable for one person might be perfectly achievable for someone else. The specialists are the experts and I would also say go with their recommendations 🙂 safe travels!
Best wishes
Soap 🧼
Hi Ftm35
There's an article on the BHF website that may be of assistance to you in terms of information ... search for "swimming with a heart condition".
Take care.
My husband had 5 stents done in late April 2019 and we were due to fly to Spain in late May. The message we got from the cardiologist was that flying within 6 weeks of stents was a big no no - i did not get as far as asking about swimming. I phoned the travel company and even though we had paid the final invoice they switched the holiday to September. I kept my our travel insurance company informed about everything.
hi
I was advised not to swim after HA and stents for at least 12 weeks then only after a further assessment, this was by the rehab team
The reason given was the amount of work the heart has to do whilst swimming and the effort that isn’t noticeable at the time
Dear Ftm35
A warm welcome to the forum and a question that I can already see has answers that are not very helpful to you.
If you have had the go ahead from your cardiologist team, then why not?
If you have full travel insurance covering your condition, then why not?
Turkey { both North and South } has stunning private health care/hospitals, then why not?
If you have thought about your loved ones and the worry/fear they will have with you exercising so soon after such a major operation, then why not?
If you have thought about how hard and shocking it is to all that are involved in recovering a body from the sea, then why not?
If you have thought about all the work that hundreds of people have done for you to get you fit enough to even be able to think about going into the sea, then what not.
Whatever you decided to do is your decision and yours alone, as long as everyone around you realises that,
Then why not?
Exie8 in reply to
I could not have put it better!
I too was told not to swim in any water that causes me to take a sharp intake of breath as it means shock. I think it depends on your blood vessel health. I too loved to swim, but have gladly forgone that pleasure and touch wood, 10 years on, still enjoying my holidays. Keep well, keep safe, follow Cardiologist advice, they are specialists in a very complex field
Hello Ftm35,In my case (HA and one stent) I was told not to swim as the heart can get stressed dealing with extra work and cold water. I have been in swimming pools in hotels on holiday but not the sea.
Have you been to cardio rehab ?
They give excellent advice.
I'm sure the people on here are concerned for you well being .
Good luck.
Found the following article on the BHF website on a different link to the one I gave previously, the other article didn't include the last paragraph that this one does:
Health benefits of swimming
Indoor pools and heated lidos can be quite inviting when it’s cold outside. And a weekly visit will get you well on the way to your recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week.
Swimming is one of the few activities that work your whole body. Breaststroke, backstroke, front crawl, butterfly and even doggy paddle get your legs and arms moving. This in turn works your back and core muscles.
Swimming is suitable for all ages and abilities. Most pools and leisure centres run adult-only beginners’ lessons, so even those who’ve never tried it can get involved.
It’s easy to underestimate how hard your body is working when you swim (because of the buoyancy and the fact that you don’t feel hot and sweaty), so you should exercise at a lower intensity than you would do out of the water. If you have a health condition, check with your doctor first.
People with heart conditions should only swim in water with a temperature of 26–33°C (79–91°F) as colder or hotter temperatures mean your heart needs to work harder. Most public swimming pools are regulated at 29°C, which is 84°F.
If you’ve had heart surgery, you must wait at least 10–12 weeks before swimming. This will allow your breastbone and muscles in your chest to heal. Check with your surgeon or cardiac rehab team before you start.
One last word, you need to inform the airline that you are travelling with as well as your insurance company as they could well have ruled regarding how long after a heart attack they are prepared to let you fly
I love the sunshine, that much so we spent 17 years living in a little place called Santa Pola on the Valencian coast.I had a HA and angioplasty 23 months ago.......much to my dismay I couldn't cope with sitting in the hot sun for quite a few months after my HA, I don't know if it was the extra work load placed in my heart to keep cool or what, it just made me feel nauseas and generally unwell.
I'm pleased to say after a few months I was fine.....in the last 6 months we've visited Maderia, Sicily and Tenerife and I've had plenty of sun and done a fair bit of snorkeling.
So what's my message.....give Turkey a miss, get yourself sorted and then enjoy life, you've got a lot left......
Expert advice is always the best but most of us on here just offer our experiences which add a bit of "colour" as well.
I'd really like to know the name of your insurance company as it is hard to find one that works for us.
I used PayingTooMuch.com One of the few prepared to cover me.
Good luck by the way.
Swimming isn’t advised as exercise immediately following a heart attack because the sensation can mask another one happening. I wouldn’t start again until cardio rehab is completed and you’ve had the go-ahead.
Please Please Please tell us which insurance company you are with, it gets asked so many times on here and would be very helpful to fellow Health Unlocked readers. This site is all about asking for and giving information. Thank you.
Ftm35 From your earlier comment it's unfortunate that you feel you did not get the answers to your question that you feel you deserved, and as a result believe it necessary to consider leaving. However all the answers you received were well meaning (or so it appears to me) and people took the time and effort to contribute to advise you as they saw fit, given there will be a different set of answers from a wide group albeit with one common set of experiences relating to heart disease. So just as people put in as they take out on here, it would be extremely beneficial to the group if you could answer the questions others have asked regarding your current insurance provider. Thankyou.
hi, if it were the medical professionals who advised you then I’d do exactly what they say. They know what they’re on about. 👍
When I became aware I needed surgery, I had a holiday planned, my Gp said no problem but cardiologist said no because of where it was - Turkey. Good luck and safe travels x
Hi Ftm35
I had a double Bypass in May 2022 and went on holiday to Cyprus in September 2022 (4 months after op). I had permission to fly and go on holiday from my cardiologist, cardiac care team, cardiac rehabilitation team and GP plus I had travel insurance, I had no pending procedures though.
I went in the pool every day for the two week holiday, it was very relaxing and I loved every minute of it. I would ask your GP and cardiologist and take their advice as I did.
I hope all goes well with your future procedures and you have a great holiday if you go.
By the way, if you have stents and heart disease as you say, then unfortunately you do have a bad heart, it’s a progressive disease you need to manage as I am.
Take care, have a great holiday.
I'm 5 weeks on my rehabilitation programme had 4 stents fitted, and from day 1 from the rehabilitation nurse and fitness instructors, no swimming in pools for 3 months and upto 6 months in the sea no swimming due to the different types of pressures.
Hi.I'm not judging, so please bear with me. Your post simply worries me.
Travel insurance aside, as others have already made valid comments on that issue.
The last thing any informed heart patient wants to do is, using your words "get red hot".For us here Hearties, that just spells trouble with a capital T.
You say you had a "mild" heart attack.
A heart attack is a heart attack, is a heart attack . .
You appear to be seeking to minimise the seriousness and reality of your situation, to justify your desired holiday activities.
Not to mention, you are in the middle of treatment (awaiting a further stent).
I get it, I do, it's human nature, I've been there and got the damn t-shirt, but it's really not a great idea.
Being "younger" is, sadly, no guarantee of protection.
Maybe if you had a fuller understanding of your condition, it would make it more relatable to you. The BHF Nurses on here, are very helpful in explaining things in, non medical terms, so a language we can all get to grips with.
You are not being judged, you are just being given some very sound suggestions, by other members with combined years of direct experiences.
And No, I'm sure it's not what you want to hear, but you need to hear it, as it's the truth of the matter.
Accepting you have experienced a cardiac event and subsequent treatment, and that you now live with that condition, is not always easy to get your head round, it takes time, and you are very early doors in your heart journey.
Turkey and all its delights, will still be there in the future - it's not going anywhere . . But will you ?
Please be patient.
I'd suggest you give this some serious thought and maybe re-book for when your additional stent/medications have settled down and travel in a slightly cooler month of the year. You can still have a fab. holiday and enjoy the water.
From personal experience, I have 3 stents and a genetic heart condition, and I love my warm sunny holidays.
Unfortunately, having such a condition, means, I've had to accept, that life changes and things can still be done, but in slightly different ways, and if those minor changes means still being alive to do them, then I'll take it.
I wish you only the very best. Take care.
I don’t think ftm35 is listening anymore
Ftm 35 had no intention of listening, just another selfish time waster.
Harsh ! Ms Sooty. Uneccesary.Do you actually have a formally diagnosed heart condition?
I’m a swimmer. Advice from rehab after my HA and 1 stent was. To only swim in a manned pool, to be very careful as swimming is an exercise that puts a lot of stress on the heart but as your in water your not always aware of that stress immediately, to take it very slowly, not to swim in temperatures that are below 26 degrees or too warm.
I started back in the slow lane and over 18 months gradually built up to 1 mile a session in the middle lane. Don’t underestimate the effort of swimming. I burn more calories swimming than in the gym. I wear an Apple Watch and can see my heart rate. I think you may need to accept that you might have to adjust to having had a heart attack and stents yet. Good luck.
Given that FTM35 isn't prepared to share details of his insurance company, to help others, speaks volumes.......
I wonder if the NHS will be able to claim off your insurance for the the cost of your treatment if you ignore the advice of your cardiac care team and something unpleasant happens while you are enjoying yourself splashing about in the water.
Lecture or not, listen to the experiences of the people you 'reached out to' (I really dislike that saying) but most of all, listen to your Cardiologist.
BTW, what was the name of your insurance company, I'm sure they would love the extra business from members of this forum.
Thank you for your input, however it isn’t me who needs advice/clarification on this particular question and with respect, it isn’t our duty to decide whether someone is or isn’t taking a situation seriously. All we can do is encourage people to heed the advice of their specialists and give our own opinions based on our experiences - that’s it.
I’m not sure why you have put “reached out” in inverted commas as you have - are you taking issue with my phrasing? If so, I apologise if how I word things offends you.
I would also respectfully disagree and say that we are all very much individuals, with our own thoughts and feelings as well as experiences.
I’m sorry to hear about your experience with your angina attacks and I can empathise that this was a shocking time for you and would bring up many questions for you. Ironically, it appears that heart conditions don’t seem to be for the faint hearted.
I sincerely hope that you’re feeling better and wish you well.
Take care
Soap 🧼
I’m not surprised that Ftm35 hasn’t come back. We all respond to our diagnosis differently and who knows how Ftm35 feels about theirs. They could be struggling to accept it but how many of us have felt that way? Some of the responses have been worded a bit harshly and if he or she is new to this forum they’ve probably been put off. There are ways of saying things without completely alienating someone
I presume the cardiologist knows you are going away as s/he has arranged for another stent after your holiday. What dod s/he say? Take their advice.
For my part, we are all different, so perhaps see how you feel, but keeo close to the waters edge.
Hi Ftm35,I decided to read all the replies before reaching out to you!!
You've had a lot of advice here either to cancel your holiday or to go but not to swim! I love swimming and really miss it!! I've had 3 heart attacks, 2 stents which collapsed, and double cabg ( January of this year) my cardiologist was very specific on what I can and cannot do exercise wise. Swimming is an absolute no no for at least 12 weeks after a stent. ( this is ONLY what I was told) thereafter, gentle walking up and down the pool only and no submerging in the water . Gently treading water is ok but definitely no breast stroke! When I asked why, I was told that becsuse your body is supported in the water you dont realise how much your heart is having to work! Also the pressure of being in water affects your heart too. If you have been put on beta blockers, which most of us have been, then this is to reduced your heart rate and blood pressure. It is to give your heart a rest and not have it work so hard. I bet you wish you hadn't asked the question now!! but please know that as someone who's life has been changed forever, I do EXACTLY what my cardiologist tells me to!! If yours has given you the green light then go for it!! I was advised to put off going on holiday too because of the pressure in the plane and the heat abroad. My condition was genetic too!! I was so petrified of dying that I gave up smoking, drinking and eating unhealthy foods!!! I won't go abroad again as I don't want to get covid ( that's just me though)!! Wer'e all different aren't we!? You do what you think is best for you. Take good care and stay safe.
Just enjoy your holiday but pay heed to what the consultant told you - no swimming , you do so at your own peril and at great expense to you if you do survive an episode whilst swimming as insurance will not pay in those circumstances as it will be on your records that you were told not to swim by the consultant. Good luck.
However mild, you have had a heart attack requiring intervention with further intervention planned. You can have your holiday and your swimming at a later date but don't risk undoing the good work that has been done to save your life and do consider the possible consequences if you ignore advice.
I think some of the comments were un called for like calling the person a selfish time waster. There are ways of getting a point across without being rude.
Again, I would like to respectfully point out that it isn’t our duty to police members of this forum - we all have freedom of choice.
I would also agree to disagree, with respect, on the point that I raised of being individuals as dangerous. At no point have I encouraged this person to do anything dangerous and in fact actively encouraged that they get specific advice from their specialists regarding the scenario they’re talking about.
Although it seems unlikely, I am taking them at their word. I do it for everyone else on this forum, including yourself, so why wouldn’t I with Ftm35 too? Innocent until proven guilty in my view and they also have no obligation to prove themselves to us in order to be valid or approved. I do understand why some members have a vested interest in the name of the insurer though and it would be helpful for that to be shared; we can only encourage 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I know what I would do faced with that situation, knowing how I am and my preference to err on the side of caution but I’m not Ftm35, I’m MummaSoap.
They may well have given this a great deal of thought and may be satisfied that it is a minimal risk for them or perhaps have made peace with the potential consequences of their choices; I can’t speak for them though.
Again, I can encourage people and signpost them to articles and advice, but as much I would love to think I’m that important and have that kinda influence in the world, 😂 I don’t have the ability to command someone to listen to me. I am but a dot in a much greater blueprint of life, as are you 🙂
Well at least you’re honest about it!
Well I've never had a HA or Stents so I'm clueless when it comes to the question, however, I have had a lot of experience dealing with Cardiologists, Surgeons, Doctors et al over a very longtime. The matter of trust is something I take seriously, and listening to them has kept me in good stead. With that in mind, if a Medical Professional of that ilk, advises something for my well-being I get on with it. Probably, a bit naive to come on a forum like this asking the question. I may be wrong but it appears to be second guessing the medics and looking for validation from a peer group.
Hi Ftm35, I know I have already asked but you have not yet replied. Please can you tell this forum and me inparticular, which insurance company you use please?
Wow! 1st time I've been back for some time and Ftm35 has certainly stirred up a hornets 🐝 nest. To some extent I have a great deal of sympathy for Ftm35 how he/she is coping having been diagnosed with a serious heart condition at such a young age I've no idea. I found myself in the same situation at 72 exertional Angina double Bypass September 2022. Personally I swim like brick and to be told don't swim would be music to my ears. However, my poison is tennis 🎾 and being told no way Jose for at least 3 months was a serious bummer! Did seek advice on here at 8 weeks post Bypass and pretty much encountered the same response as Ftm35 . Needless to say I ignored it. Looking back it was very foolish. However it did my state of mind a massive boost in the same respect I've stopped all my medications with the exception of a daily Aspirin. Probably, very foolish but god it's good to feel normal again. In conclusion if I was Ftm35 I'd probably be Turkey but swinging a racket not swimming.
I see from your post that health concerns are a significant factor when considering swimming abroad. Dealing with heart issues indeed requires special attention, especially when you're far from home. It's admirable that you're looking into all the necessary precautions and seeking advice to ensure you can enjoy your favorite activity safely and responsibly. If your health allows and you're considering an adventurous water activity in a place like Dubai, you might want to look into YepRent. They offer a plethora of water sports activities, and they have connections with trustworthy companies in Dubai. You can find everything from wakeboarding to e-foiling and they could help you find something that suits your level of fitness and adventure. More information on what they offer is available at yeprent.com . Remember, always consult with your healthcare provider before engaging in any physical activity, especially abroad. Safe travels!
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